Keeping With The Theme...

Willow Tree (2006)

Path for Janis (2006)

Brushstroke details...





These two are smaller, 9x12 inches Belgian Linen on hardboard. The background is Cadmium Orange this time. It gives a far softer effect than the red.

Darks dried good 'n moody... which is a positive thing. While the area is quite pretty - lots of August perennials, etc., I've attempted to also capture the undercurrent of darkness that exists in these woods.

More Red Ground!

Yesterday's unfinished effort: a sundail on a tree stump in my yard. 16x20 inches, acrylic on stretched canvas.

This red ground technique has me so stoked. Couldn't resist trying it again. Here is my contour drawing, using vine charcoal on the prepared red ground:



I called it quits as I began to lose my lighting, which indeed can get frustrating. I will simply return today when the dial is at the right "time"!

Painting From Life

Painting From Life
As a diehard watercolourist, I have not attempted an acrylic or oil plein air, but Larry Seiler's recent blog posts about Gruppe and complementary palettes inspired me to do one yesterday afternoon down by the meadow entrance. It is acrylic on stretched canvas, 16x20. The undertone I gave it was red red red! I tell you, I really enjoyed painting greens and blues on top of that hot red. It just vibrated! Thanks for the illumination, L!

Massachusetts Whirlwind

Bobby and I went on a last minute business trip to Cambridge Massachusetts last weekend. We were able to get a great internet deal on a room at Hotel Marlowe - I recommend the place completely. Late Saturday aft, we had time to meet up with equine artist Helen Scanlon and her husband Steve. Helen and I have maintained an online relationship for some time. It was just like picking up on a conversation that we started online. Lots of laughter and art talk! We met up at The Museum of Science. We saw the poster for Body Worlds and decided to go see that exhibit.

Body Worlds was tastefully done for the most part, and there was no covering up of nudity – one saw everything the human body has to display. My favourite display was “The Yoga Lady”, a woman who had done yoga all her life. No spring chicken, her eyebrows were gray, but her body was flexible and toned, with no evidence of arthritis, etc. Made me want to take up yoga! Also part of the display were organs – lots of them. Healthy versus not. It was an eye opener to see in 3D what coal and smoke really does to lungs. Photos were not allowed, but you can read about it here. I do wish I had brought a sketchbook with me. What a life drawing experience it would have been!

After this experience, we were definitely hungry for some fava beans and a fine Chianti, so we headed to an Italian restaurant nearby and gorged ourselves on LOBSTER RAVIOLI... Papa Razzi was the restaurant’s name, so we acted accordingly:


(photo: Steve Scanlon)


As the sun set, we bid them farewell, and headed off to our business event. We drove the long haul back to Canada the next morning. What a fantastic place Massachusetts is - we both kept saying we must make a trip back someday to explore the area further. So many galleries and bookstores in Cambridge alone! I was drooling as we drove past gallery after gallery on our way out of town, wishing we could have afforded another day, and time for me to paint.

3 New Plein Air Works from The Cove

Tandem Tree, watercolour, 5.25" x 11", Arches Hot Pressed



















Sails on the Reach 2, watercolour, 10" x 14", Arches Hot Pressed
















Birch Swirl, watercolour, 8" x 10", Multimedia ArtBoard

Niagara Falls IPAP 2006 Worldwide Paint-Out

From the Executive Director of International Plein Air Painters:

______**______**__________
We are happy to announce the Niagara Paint Out is now being sponsored for the first time by sister cities
Niagara Falls, New York
and
Niagara Falls, Canada


International Plein Air Painters is a Worldwide Organization of artists dedicated to the advancement and appreciation of plein air painting without restrictions of borders or region.

For more info http://www.i-p-a-p.com

Please join us in our fourth "WORLDWIDE" Paint Out in Niagara Falls, Ontario, IPAP Headquarters scheduled for Sept. 8-9, 2006
http://www.ipap.homestead.com/niagara.html


The new IPAP Awards and Merchandise Designs are finished...
You can order stuff as participants or organizers like T's, buttons,hats,bags,etc.
Black T shirts this year !
Be part of the big picture and show thw world you're a plein air painter.

Show organizers:
We've done the work for you
Order your buttons for award rosettes,
framed tiles,mugs,posters,lots more...
Just go to http://www.cafepress.com/button9
and you can access all from that one page

http://www.ipap.homestead.com/membership.html
J.Baldini, IPAP Executive
Director

We also have some IPAP members attending for the first time
L.Diane Johnson
Linda Richichi
Karl Eric Leitzel

as well as all time supporting members
Jerry Markham
Brandy Gale
John Pryce

Also joining us in Niagara Falls are
Carol Allmen
Bill and Marnie Brehm
Jessie Grant
Debi Harwick
Kath Schifano
and Ann Walsh



We thank you for passing on this announcement to other artists and groups

__._,_.___
plein_aire group site
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/plein_aire
OFFICIAL PUBLIC WEBSITE http://i-p-a-p.com

PLEIN AIR WORKSHOPS http://artworkshops.homestead.com

Aug. 14-15, 2006 Niagara Falls, Canada
Sept.10-11, 2006 Niagara Falls, Ontario
Sept.17-24, 2006 Acadia/Mt Desert, Maine
Jan. 9-11, 2007 St. Lucia, West Indies
May 20-21, 2007 Niagara Falls, Ontario
July 16-20, 2007 Monhegan Island, Maine

Two Sunsets on Rough

Two "sunset over the treetops" watercolour studies, on Arches Rough Pressed. I don't normally care to paint sunsets, cliche and all that, but one night in late July was too full of colour to resist. Had to paint FAST!!! Fast begets expression, no?

Call for Artists

Hey fellow artists and fans of plein air painting - please join us for the fourth annual "WORLDWIDE" Paint Out in Niagara Falls, Ontario! (I'll be there with bells on.)

Plein air artists from around the planet will be painting the Niagara Falls environs - Sept. 8-9, 2006 - with reception/awards to follow, and a show open to the public. (location TBA) Click here for more info, to download the prospectus, and/or to register:

Niagara Prospectus

Volunteers and advertisers are also needed to assist artists and organizers. Contact us if you are able to help!

Can't make it to Niagara? Then register to paint on location anywhere in the world on those dates to be a part of the event! Hosted by International Plein Air Painters, this event is happening simultaneously in many international locations. You can join IPAP or learn more about the group and see some of the many events happening posted on the website link below:

International Plein Air Painters

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Composition in Red and Blue

Two intensely blue dragonflies on the Glenora Ferry. The background is a red sportscar.
I've been painting outdoors for three days, too. Hope to get the results up here at some point. SOOO freaking busy.

Die Mannequin

Die Mannequin in a VERRRY tight space, filled to capacity. I had to crawl on hands and knees to get these shots. Well worth it methinks. Isn't she yummy?

See the rest here - click meee...

More Sleddogs!

Snapped the 'dogs in Kingston, Ontario, aboard the Island Queen.
1. No, that is not seasickness that made it so psychedelic, I simply used the sharp filter and moved with the action as I took the shot. 3rd pic Eric, Michael and Kenny at the aftershow show, at The Merchant. Lots more at the Sleddogs' web site.

Alexisonfire at Scene Fest, St Catharines

This was fun! Photos of Alexisonfire, at Scene Fest, Market Square stage, last weekend. As the sun set, the images I made for them grew more intense.












Lots more:CLICKY HERE

Perennial Spring

The weather has been unbearably hot and sticky here at The Cove, but my garden loves it. A few macros for you!

Yellow Poppy



A Columbine. I cannot believe I actually grew this beautiful thing.



Crispy black ant on a Rhubarb Bloom



On the iPod, French electronica artist Sebastian Schuller. Highly recommended by Daniel, a very kind online pal at Wet Canvas!

The Bottle Rockets!

A very cool friend, Patty in Chicago (aka Hot Rod Girl), gave me the heads up that her beloved Bottle Rockets were playing last night in Toronto. So after attending Zoë Bentley's very enjoyable CD release party at Revival, I high-tailed it over to Lee's Palace to catch some of their set before the loooong drive back to Quinte Isle. WOW, was it worth it! They actually sold out of Zoysia CDs at the show, before the set was finished. Highly recommended. Tons of character, great twang.

Zoe Bentley at Revival, Toronto

Zoë Bentley sounds and even looks a bit like Sheryl Crow. Writes her own material, too. Excellent pipes, for sure. My quirky visions from her CD release party include:

Lots more here!

ABC and Martin Fry in Montreal

Greetings from Hotel Fairmont Queen Elizabeth in Montreal! I am here to see & shoot British New Romantic band ABC. Wheee! I wore my circa 1982 winklepickers and a tight leopard print t-shirt material rusched dress. What a band, and what a night! Met the cutest flight attendant, too - Hi Camille! - we went to a nightclub afterwards with them and danced til 4am. Camille is a fantastic dancer!

Martin Fry looked hunky as ever in a gorgeous silk suit. Drummer David Palmer (who joined ABC in 1982) is playing on the tour. He is the percussionist for Rod Stewart as well. What a NICE guy, too! Fabulous show.

Lots more here. Enjoy!

Colorado Siamese Rescue

I am so happy to share this news: I am now a Promo Partner with my favourite charitable cause. Check it out!
Rocky Mountain Siamese Rescue

Ostrich Fern Blues

The ferns are peeking up from the earth, and are about to unfurl. It is all I can do not to eat these fiddleheads with drawn butter, but no, I shall let them grow.



I'm sharing so much photography lately, because I have a bit of a block painting-wise these days. It sucks. I get out there, and nothing good happens on my Arches.

Brokenose Cove

Spent 7 hours at emerg clinic last Sunday. Broke my nose (fainted when I had that nasty 6 week long flu I caught at CMW '06) and it is all infected. And the infection has spread. I feel like hell. When will it end?? Hope the new antibiotics kick in soon!

So, I am forced to rest and recoup. Those who know my bouncy bohemian nature know I am not so good at that...

No time like the present to post in my poor, neglected journal!

Speaking of Rogers Canadian Music Week 2006, here are a few photographs.

Matt Mays and El Torpedo play the 'Sirius / Standard Radio Showcase" at The Phoenix
Shot handheld with my beloved Canon EF 16-35L f2.8.



Poor Pelly and The Kent Boys at Cadillac Lounge.
Unique. Love that washtub bass!



"Barshots TV" Producer Paddy Fagen in the Epic Lounge at Fairmont Royal York.
He smelled wonderful.



One day, I was lucky enough to be granted a pass from House of Blues to shoot Dallas Green (City and Colour, Alexisonfire)



Lots more at this linky

I have not been painting lately but hope to get back to that as soon as I recover. Thanks to Jacq for the recent encouragement on that front. ;-)

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

Lake Louise is one of the most beautiful places on the planet, and what a hotel. Totally recommended!
It was fantastic to see old friends and meet new ones, and especially to hang with my agent, Roxanne. I was asked to do a workshop there this year - Make Your Own Hudson Bay Blanket Mittens - was great fun; I LOVED doing it and hope I did Bruce Bembridge proud. Also exhibited a selection of plein air paintings, and snowshoed to my heart's content! Painted four new snowscapes this trip, which will be up soon. A new flash slideshow of adventures at Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada last month is linked below. 59 pictures in there so far, it takes a while to load, so get a coffee or single malt while ye wait. I'll keep this up for only a while, then archive it.

http://www.kittengale.com/photoshows/flashLL2006.html

Poonch-Key

This detail is from a recent commission portrait, 22 x 30 inches on Fabriano Artistico 300lb. Watercolour.



A joy to paint! He is part Jack Russell, part something big. His name, Poonch-Key, means little Polish donut.

Saturday's Child

I was born on a Saturday Night, in 1965.

Mom and Dad, then strict Catholics, got pregnant on their wedding night: after their Alberta wedding they climbed into a car decorated with powder blue toilet tissue roses and shaving foam slogans, and went directly Southbound. I was conceived in Great Falls, Montana. I guess you could say I was Made in USA.

A few days later, the happy, gorgeous newlyweds were whisked off to France in a Hercules Freight Airplane for Dad's new posting at the local Fire Hall there. (Dad was a Search and Rescue dude at the time.) Whisked off to a land where they knew not the language, nor the customs, nor the food. I think Dad had never even even eaten PIZZA before. Or was it Chinese? My Mother had only cooked one thing ever, a chicken, but that is another story... We're talking poor kids from smalltownville.

Anyhow, almost 9 months later in France, my Dad had gone out to the absinthe bars with his newfound car racing mates, and Mom was at home eating garlicked escargot, smoking Gitanes, and voraciously reading Sci-Fi, when all of a sudden, water broke and all that breederly stuff. I was early.

Off to the hospital in Marville went Mom..., and me, eager to greet the world just like a good ENFP. I came out, ugly. Preemie. No nose. Huge eyes wide open. And smiling and cooing! Oh, and covered in slimy green waste. My character was already entrenched!

Mom immediately wanted to know when she could go back to work. She had used her Science degree to get away from her folks, and dammit, no biological event was gonna stop that now! It would be thirteen years before she and I had our epiphany, made peace, and became friends bonded at the soul. (In anger, I threw a peanut butter sandwich at her and immediately regretted it rather than feeling bratishly RIGHT about doing it.)

Anyhow, back to 1965... Dad came by tipsy afterwards and named me after a childhood memory of words that sounded poetic to him. He was pretty freaked at having adulthood so rudely thrust upon him. He didn't know he would be the wonderful man he is today then.

Even though I have never been pregnant, and (by choice) I am not going to procreate, I am so fond of this story for some silly reason. Maybe because I love my parents unconditionally. They are really, really great.

My friend's incredible step-daughter and her husband are having their first wee sprog very soon and all are wondering when it will be born. Placing my bet for a Saturday in February.